This 2008 clip of John McCain defending Obama from conspiracy theory has gone viral

It is ironic that if it hadn't been for Trump and him starting and
fomenting the birther movement, she wouldn't have said what she did.
"Fake news" has snowballed exponentially under and because of Trump and
his neverending capacity for lying.

LOU MontanaPueblo, CO

Aug. 28, 2018 7:48 a.m.

John McCain is what my father's Republican party use to be.

John
McCain went to war came home and continued to serve our nation.

This
video clip is only one of thousands of time John McCain stopped the lies and
bigotry.

Just imagine if that same woman approached Trump.

Baron ScarpiaLogan, UT

Aug. 28, 2018 6:05 a.m.

For me, this is McCain's finest moment in 2008. And yet, this provided a
glimpse of what was to come.

McCain's selection of Sarah Palin
as his running mate legitimized the GOP's alt-right fringe and made way for
Trump (the man who promoted the birther movement) to take the White House.

As the GOP implodes under Trump's leadership, historians will point
to this moment and McCain's presidential campaign as a turning point in
America's shift away from its ideals as that "shining light on a
hill."

Frozen FractalsSalt Lake City, UT

Aug. 27, 2018 9:43 p.m.

@SC Matt[@Thomas Jefferson:

"But I believe the difference
is that on the left we try to ignore the fringe"

You had
"fringe" and "normal" on the ballot for the beginning of the
primaries for the 2016 Presidential election. "Fringe" (Bernie Sanders)
beat out "normal" (James Webb) quite handily. ]

I don't
think fringe was being used to refer to political views, but rather the
conspiratorial nonsense like birtherism or that nonsensical pizza
restaurant-child trafficking thing.

HutteriteAmerican Fork, UT

Aug. 27, 2018 9:31 p.m.

McCain, in this video, didn't just defend against 'conspiracy
theory'. He debunked stupid.

We need more McCain.

The MelioristCA, 00

Aug. 27, 2018 8:09 p.m.

Sadly we have lost a true hero and a man of integrity.

If
McCain’s service to America has inspired one thing I would hope it is a
return to civility.

If those who support Trump and those who oppose
him could please just agree on how important it is that we bury the swords and
just show a little respect.

We can disagree on policies and issues,
but the rancour of the current leadership is beneath the standard of what
America represents.

It is time for the Democrats to agree not to run
Hillary again and the Republicans to agree not to run Trump, and then America
can elect a new candidate who can truly restore honor to the office of the
President.

SC MattSaline, MI

Aug. 27, 2018 6:03 p.m.

@Thomas Jefferson:

"But I believe the difference is that on the
left we try to ignore the fringe"

You had "fringe" and
"normal" on the ballot for the beginning of the primaries for the 2016
Presidential election. "Fringe" (Bernie Sanders) beat out
"normal" (James Webb) quite handily.

I'm certainly not
claiming that Republicans did better. I would literally have voted for even Ted
Cruz before Trump from that field of choices. But both parties have problems
pandering to fringe elements.

ItsjustpyriteMagna, UT

Aug. 27, 2018 5:09 p.m.

John McCain was a true man of integrity and honor. Not willing to submerge
himself into lies and ignorance just to be seen to tow the party line. A
virtuous man who truly wanted to do well for all Americans. Republicans and
Democrats alike would do well to learn from Senator John McCain. It's too
bad that he seemed to be the only Republican in office with these truly
conservative traits, and he didn't seem bothered to show them to anyone. If
you ask me the people calling him a Rino were truly the Rinos themselves. When
people talk and comment about needing someone to step up and show they're
true love of country and patriotism I would think of John McCain. He was a
politician worthy of respect and honor, and this liberal will miss him. We need
more like him.

JBsLogan, UT

Aug. 27, 2018 4:48 p.m.

I'm afraid that this is the end of an era of people working together. I
hope I'm wrong.

I, too, didn't always agree with McCain
but I respected him more than anyone else in Washington. I was always told it is
better to be respected than liked. I felt that way about this honorable man. I
certainly have no respect for the current occupant of the WH because he is not
honorable nor does he put the country first.

I was excited to vote
for Senator McCain for president until he picked Sarah Palin as running mate.
Steve Schmidt, who helped persuade McCain to choose her, has said he regrets his
part in that more than just about anything. And so did Senator McCain.

Craig ClarkBoulder, CO

Aug. 27, 2018 2:32 p.m.

John McCain and I were on opposite sides of an issue about 90% of the time. And
yet he remained one of the leaders I had the utmost respect for. When he spoke,
I listened and found his arguments rational even when I found them unpersuasive.
What was his secret for having such amicable relations with people from both
parties, from the left and the right?

No secret, really. He just
approached issues with the attitude that disagreeing with someone did not make
them the enemy. He was somewhat of a rarity in these times.

Happy Valley HereticOrem, UT

Aug. 27, 2018 2:23 p.m.

I always thought this was a high point in McCains clips, it shows character and
strength, something sorely lacking in our president and the current GOP.

When given the chance to side with crazy or reasonable we
got...Their's good people on both sides those protesting racism.... and the
Nazis and White Nationalists?

I also remember when Donald called
McCain a loser for being a POW, and the Trumpkins cheered?

shamrockSalt Lake City, UT

Aug. 27, 2018 2:21 p.m.

This video is a perfect example of why Americans all across the political
spectrum respected John McCain as a person. McCain had the integrity and
political courage to disagree on political issues without resorting to hateful
rhetoric or personal attacks.

Thomas JeffersonCottonwood Heights, UT

Aug. 27, 2018 1:19 p.m.

I agree with poster 'conservative scientist' that both sides have
people with...lets call them...interesting beliefs.

But I believe
the difference is that on the left we try to ignore the fringe people whereas on
the right they try to elect the fringe.

one voteSalt Lake City, UT

Aug. 27, 2018 12:50 p.m.

The birthers were crazy and mean.

Liberal On Planet ZionSLC, UT

Aug. 27, 2018 12:20 p.m.

Any thoughts from the low information, enabling demographic? The Trump train has
derailed comrades! Country before party.

conservative scientistLindon, UT

Aug. 27, 2018 12:11 p.m.

John McCain was simply a fine man. This clip shows a fundamental difference
between John McCain and many of our other politicians. President Trump is
perhaps the most flamboyant and brash example today as he fans the flames of
conspiracy theories, but he is not alone; Plenty of people on both sides of the
isle are willing to accommodate to the extremes of their respective parties by
engaging in identity politics and fanning the flames of class warfare.